A/N: And we're back! First off, I apologize if the last chapter felt rushed at all. Someone posted a review, and after going back and reading it, I was surprised at the absence of style in comparison to the first. I will be going back to rewrite it at some point, so thank you for that review, .

Also, the first few chapters will be shorter just because of continuity purposes. Not a lot is happening at the moment because I am setting the stage for the true beginning of the story (if you haven't guessed what that is by this point, I am disappointed). So, don't worry. It will be picking up quickly because I will also be focusing on this story more than my others just because it was my first idea and I really want to get everything I have down onto paper, so to speak

On with the show!

Disclaimer: It's fanfiction. Read the terms of use or whatever they are called. If I ain't making money, I can't be sued. -\'_'/-

Chapter 2

Story Time!

"This is starting to get old," ground out Dellingr as his eyes continued to flit around the empty space surrounding him. "I need to stop blacking out. It feels like a trope at this point. Which would mean…" He turned around, finding a stark white door in the black void. "Knew it. Whenever there is a mindscape, there is a door. Whenever there is a door, there are either sealed memories or a sagely companion." With his theory stated, Dellingr swung open the door, revealing a cozy living room. His living room, to be exact. It had been almost 10 years since he had laid eyes on it, but it was burned into his memory forever. His gaze fixated upon the aged leather recliner that sat farthest from him, its beaten visage belying its frequent use. What caught his attention, however, was the figure that sat in it, grinning up at him mischievously.

"Ah, my benevolent host arrives!" proclaimed the stranger cheerily, throwing his arms wide in greeting. He seemed to be a high-class gentleman from his impeccable clothing, but his messy black hair said otherwise. A pure white cane was hooked on his wrist, innocently dangling like a Christmas ornament. He gestured to the equally beaten sofa. "Come, take a seat! I have so much to tell you. My name is Sumaisu." Dellingr halted his strides toward the sofa and whipped his head around. 'Well…not quite what I was thinking. Isn't he supposed to be dead?' The mysterious man's eyes narrowed into slits, his grin turning menacing. "You seem to know my true nature. That will make this all the more—Urk!" The man's eyes bulged in surprise and pain as the mind's owner removed his fist from the intruder's stomach.

"You are the one from the story," muttered an angered Dellingr. His furious eyes bore down on the wheezing man. "Screaver Bartel, my cousin…he fought against you with his spiritual guardian, Michael. I never thought it could be true, but today has helped me come to terms with a lot of things." He hefted the groaning man up with ease, cocking his fist back. "You brought him immense pain, dredging up memories that could have sent him spiraling into darkness." The fist landed again, connecting with Sumaisu's face with a satisfying crunch. Blood, spittle, and teeth spewed from the man's mouth. "And you did it for your own sick amusement. But Michael was supposed to have killed you. How are you here?" Dellingr dropped his punching bag unceremoniously, beginning a new string of agonized moans. After taking several seconds to collect his breath, the well-dressed figure lifted his angered gaze to meet his host's cold one.

"This…this isn't the same universe, or dimension, rather," clarified the spirit being, slowly rising to his feet. "In that dimension, I was dealt a fatal blow by Michael at the cost of his power. In fact, it was the catalyst for the finishing blow that was dealt to him, Screaver, and the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates later on down the road." A frown crossed his face, the anger leaving his glinting eyes as they shifted down. "Now, I have been banished to this version of Azul for my failure and am being hunted for treachery against my former commander." Dellingr shuddered as Sumaisu's unfocused vision returned to his face. "I was sealed away in your world along with my power, doomed to live as a superhuman. I went into hiding to avoid discrimination for my powers, traveling the world under several different names." He limped to the chair, motioning for Dellingr to sit. After a thoughtful moment, the young man complied, sinking into the familiar sofa cushions.

Fire. Fire everywhere as he leaped through the flames, his little brother's hand enclosed in his. His mother's screams to run were smothered by the falling beams and growing flames. His father roared in pain as a beam skewered his thigh as he protected his daughter. His eyes snapped up, resigned to his fate as his sons escaped the carnage. An explosion rocked the house, sending them flying into the darkness. Voices. Lights. Everything was—

Dellingr growled at the memories, literally pushing them away and returning to the scene before him. Sumaisu sighed in sympathy, surprising the youth. "From what the story told me, you were an evil maniac who enjoyed psychologically tearing down his opponent," he observed, getting a scoff in response. The raven-haired man leaned back with a deep breath, his eyes fluttering closed.

"Betrayal can jade the most loyal man, cow the mightiest warrior, and even convert the vilest sinner," began Sumaisu, his lidded eyes tightening in remembrance. "A man I saw as both a brother and a leader cast me aside without a second thought. In retaliation, I used my powers to destroy him and his army. I was a trusted lieutenant, and anger fueled my reactions to this erroneous slight." His fists clenched, slamming into his seat's arms, digging into the loose covering. "Two survivors used the remainder of their power to send me to your world, sealing away the remaining vestiges of my power. They remained in the world your relative had inhabited, completing the work my former master had been pursuing. It cost them their lives, but they fractured the very infrastructure of the multi-verse." His lids flew open, his eyes now unending pits of shadow. His fists unclenched as energy formed around them into a complex structure, dots zipping around others in an intricate dance. "There are many dimensions that house unique worlds, but there are universes for each of these. For example, in one dimension, a god-like being nearly wiped out several of its universes. To put it simply, you have gone to the same dimension as Screaver, but not the same universe. In this one, everything is the same except for two major things." The energy dissipated and his eyes returned to normal as he sunk into the chair, looking significantly older than he had moments earlier.

"Obviously, the first one is that Screaver is not in it, correct?" deduced Dellingr, getting a weak nod in response. He scratched his chin, pondering the other differences. "I remember in the story that there were several beings from other worlds. In fact, there were even a couple near the end that shared Screaver's power with him. I assume they do not exist here?" He got a second nod, accompanied by a sigh. He sat up slowly, his face drawn tightly in a deep grimace.

"Nine powerful beings from different dimensions were summoned," Sumaisu explained. "There was fire turtle king, Bowser; the desert thief, Ganondorf; the space dragon, Ridley; the mechanical knight, Vader; the dark wizard, Voldemort; the skeletal warrior, Taskmaster; the cold prince, Frieza; the mad assassin, Hisoka; and finally, the immortal ninja, Madara. Combined with the might of my master, they laid waste to this world, leaving Screaver beaten with his crewmates and friends—including Michael—dead. He called upon his power to its fullest degree in his rage, wiping out all but my former leader and Madara, though he left them severely weakened. He was a mere husk of his former self and Madara imprisoned him in a separate dimension with the intent to one day return and discover his body's secrets." A vengeful grin replaced the grimace. "But that was when I made my move. My leader's troops were weak, including himself. It was the time to strike, and I did so swiftly. I gave everything I had before retreating to regain my power. The world was in shambles, and it was only myself and the two I told you about. They had been left behind due to other circumstances, and they quickly caught up to me in my weakened state. They sealed me away as I said, but they did not account for my chance encounter with the Sea Devil himself." Dellingr's eyes widened in horrified shock, eliciting a snort from Sumaisu.

"He had given me a chance to increase my power, but for a sole purpose," he continued, relishing in his listener's eagerness. "I had been able to harvest Madara's unique eyes that granted him his powers, including foreign DNA he had implanted in his forehead. But I could do nothing with them. The Sea Devil, Mizuryōshu, had reformed from the combined effect of every single Devil Fruit leaving their users' bodies at once. He was still weakened and wanted no part in a dying world. And so, he offered two things. Firstly, he would take the powers I had stolen from my foe and transform them into an unparalleled power that I could not wield but would bestow upon a chosen warrior. Second, he would destroy the world with the remaining two occupants upon my defeat, which I had made clear was imminent. And so, the events occurred, and I assume the universe is now obliterated." He gestured to Dellingr, who was beginning to work through what was being said. "You seem to almost have it work out, so you probably know what comes next. I happened upon you during your battle and bestowed you with this power, saving your life and enhancing your capabilities. I then divided the remaining power between transporting us to this realm and taking up residence in your mind." He glanced down at his body sadly, causing Dellingr to do the same.

"Your body…" realized the large man, standing from his previous perch to draw closer to the storyteller to inspect his figure. Sumaisu was now see-through, slowly dissipating as his power continued to wane. Dellingr snapped his gaze up to meet Sumaisu's. "You have gone to great lengths to atone for your wrongdoings, and I am thankful for that. But I assume there is a reason you chose me and wanted to speak to me." Sumaisu gave a curt nod, producing a small hand mirror and holding it in front of the younger man's face.

"You have already seen your powers, but you do not understand them," he warned. "It evolves with the user. As you gain mastery over it, you will unlock its full potential. And its full potential is truly magnificent. It is called the Hoshigan because of its universal power and the form it takes. The star you see will slowly change, gaining a point with each power mastered. Right now, you are in the stage where you may choose which power, to begin with. There are three stages before the final stage and each one bestows you with a new power upon its inception. When mastered, another power will be awakened along with the newest stage, increasing the time of mastery before moving on. The first stage, often referred to as the Ichijigan, accesses the Sharingan. The primary ability is what you have already experienced: immediate assessment of a foe's technique and how you can utilize it in combat." Dellingr nodded, grinning in memory of the shock on Burgess's face when he used his own move against him. Sumaisu held up a warning finger as he continued. "However, if the technique is too powerful for your body to handle, it may have drawbacks if used for extended lengths of time, understood?" His temporary pupil nodded, causing the spirit to grin widely. However, it was quickly replaced by a frown as the room shook.

"What's happening?!" Dellingr cried, clinging to his seat as a lifeline. Paint began was flaking off the walls, the ceiling began to disintegrate, and the floor cracked ominously. A glowing yellow eye stared down at the young man through the holes in the ceiling, contracting at the sight of its apparent prey. Dellingr turned to a grim Sumaisu, gesturing to the shining orb. "What is that thing?!" The interloper huffed, holding his hand out to the side as a long rapier manifested in his hand. He lowered into a stance, his form suddenly solidifying once more.

"It seems our time has been cut short, Dellingr!" he announced, dodging to the side as a flaming skeletal fist slammed into the spot where he previously stood. "Your power is beginning to overflow, attempting to overtake you. I will hold it back, but that will close off this portion of your mind with me inside. Good luck out there, and make sure to remember what we spoke of today!" With his final instructions given, Sumaisu launched himself at the fist with a fierce war cry, disappearing from view as he dashed up the ethereal limb towards the target. Dellingr remained frozen for several seconds, faintly cognizant of the sounds of fierce fighting outside the rapidly fading room. Regaining his wits, he sped for the door, wrenching it open and throwing himself through it. He collapsed into the void of his mind as the door slammed shut behind him. Leaping to his feet, he watched in defeat as chains wound around the oak portal, clamping it shut with a steel padlock. He scratched the side of his head irritably, glancing around the emptiness that surrounded him.

"This day…I can't even put into words how insane it is," he groaned, eyes constantly flitting back to the barred entrance to Sumaisu and whatever he was fending off. A sudden realization caused Dellingr to exclaim in frustration. "He never even told me how to get out! I'm stuck here!" He froze as the creak of hinges sounded from below him, following by a loss of solid ground for his feet to stand on. "I just had to sAY IIIIIIIIIIT!" He reached out futilely as he was swallowed up by darkness, the impromptu trapdoor closing behind him.

~0~

Dellingr's eyes flew open, greeted by the glorious (at least to him, it was) sight of blue skies, puffy clouds, and…a chullo-wearing duck? "Hey, buddy," greeted the groggy man. "Mind scooching to the right just a tad? You're blocking my awesome view." With a polite squawk, the goggle-toting fowl moved over, eliciting a satisfied sigh from the prone Dellingr. "Thanks, pal. Out of curiosity, what's a fabulously feathered fellow like you doing out here all alone?" A series of quacks followed, dashing Dellingr's hopes. "Bummer. I thought you would be able to talk…oh well. I need to get moving anyway." He sat up with a groan, clenching his eyes in pain. His head felt like a contingent of kangaroos had decided to have a free-for-all inside his skull. He pushed it to the side as he opened his eyes to take stock of his surroundings. He seemed to still be in the hills outside of Whiskey Peak, meaning he couldn't have been asleep for an extended period. He stretched out his limbs before rising to his feet. He nearly stumbled into the water but was caught by the duck, who squawked at him irritably. Before Dellingr could make another comment on his inability to understand the indignant fowl, a familiar voice caught his attention.

"Karoo is basically a mother hen, so expect him to be fussing over you for the next few days until you are fully healed," warned Ms. Wednesday, giggling from her perch beside Dellingr. Her eyes roamed over his new wounds that were atop his old wounds. "You should not have beaten those pirates with the state you are in. From what I understand, they are quite the notorious bunch. They came from farther on in the Grand Line to bolster their ranks and attack weaker crews and islands." Dellingr hummed in response, agreeing with the girl's reasoning. He thanked Karoo before slowly rising to his full height, wincing at the sharp pains that lanced through his body. He glanced over to his companion, nodding toward the water.

"Did they leave yet, or are they hanging around?" he queried, getting a shrug from the girl in response. Dellingr huffed at the lack of information before beginning his long, painful trek to Whiskey Peak. Karoo waddled on his left while Ms. Wednesday chatted on his right, eventually choosing to ride Karoo instead. Dellingr shook his head at the sight of a person riding a duck but resigned himself to slowly becoming used to such odd sightings.

They reached the outskirts of town by dusk. Dellingr's wounds had begun to scab over, moving from stabbing convulsions to dull aches. His feet were worse off, however, due to his lack of coverings and the surprisingly rocky composition of the mountains of Cactus Island. Blisters, cuts, and bits of sediment littered his exposed feet. After finally reaching the cobbled streets of the bounty hunter town, Dellingr collapsed to the ground to deal with the odd bits and pieces that were jammed into his soles. Ms. Wednesday gaped at the sight as Karoo rushed off, most likely to grab the resident doctor.

"What were you thinking, idiot?!" roared the horrified woman, slamming her fist into the man's head. Dellingr cried out in pain, abandoning his task to massage the lump that was beginning to form. He stiffened as soft fingers began caressing and cleaning his mauled dogs. "You should have let me know. Karoo would have been more than happy to give you a ride while I walked." She continued to berate the wincing Delllingr, who merely took it all in without a word. Sometime during her rant, Karoo showed up with a dwarfish man in-saddle. The man barely crested four feet, had a stocky build, and a curly, black beard that draped over his round stomach. A black eyepatch covered his right eye, wound tightly around his smooth, round head.

"Lass, I'll take it from here," commanded the tiny doctor in a smooth voice. Ms. Wednesday nodded obediently before shuffling back. Dellingr kept his eyes trained on the odd man as beady black eyes roved over his abused body. With a snort of amusement, the physician locked gazes with his patient. "Sonny, ye should be dead by all accounts. If some of these wounds were even a few centimeters off, I wouldn't be talking to ye right now." He motioned to Karoo, who quickly deposited a large medical bag into the bearded man's weather mitt. "But, the damage will heal, and I'll help ye along. And ye can always count on the word of Doctor Fraser!" Dellingr nodded hesitantly as the now-named Fraser began to work on his wounds. His attention was quickly recaptured by a much calmer, but still irritated, Ms. Wednesday. She had been joined by Mr. 8, Mr. 9, and Ms. Monday during the doctor's assessment.

"Tell us what happened with the Blackbeard Pirates," she demanded, causing Dellingr to sigh tiredly. He then regaled them with the fights between him and Doc Q, Stronger, Jesus Burgess, and the trickery with Blackbeard himself. He made sure to leave out the information about his eyes, explaining his copying ability as hyperawareness or some such ability. After his account, all four executives were shocked at his tenacity and willpower. Mr. 8 smiled widely as he bowed low, quickly mimicked by his companions.

"Many thanks, Mr. Dellingr!" he praised, rising slowly from his lowered position. "You have saved us all from certain disaster at the hands of these ruffians. If you so wee–ahem, ma, ma, MAAA! If you so wish, you may join our little operation for as long as you like." The other three smiled widely at Dellingr, encouraging him to accept. The outsider closed his eyes, mulling over the decision. 'Sumaisu said that Screaver was left in a dimension by Madara…there has to be a way to free him. The secrets are most likely further along in the Grand Line. Which means my best bet is to hitch a ride on a pirate ship. And what better crew than the Straw Hat Pirates? They should be arriving at some point since the Blackbeard Pirates just passed through.' With his plan set, Dellingr smiled back and nodded affirmatively, causing a great cheer to erupt from behind the four leaders. Mr. 8 smiled widely, turning to Ms. Monday. "Wire the base and inform them that we have found a replacement for Mr. 6, and to send Ms. Mother's Day." The brawny woman nodded before running off towards the town hall. Mr. 8 strode forward, grabbing Dellingr's arm gently and raising it up high. "Let us all welcome the newly-instated Mr. 6, the savior of Whiskey Peak!" A second cheer, greater than the first, resounded through the town, bringing a wild grin to Dellingr's face. He couldn't wait to see what adventures would come his way.

Looks like our boy is a hero. And to anyone who contends that Blackbeard did not stop at Whiskey Peak on his first time through, that is because there was nobody strong there. Because of Dellingr's unique and powerful presence, Teach decided to investigate with force. That is the explanation and a darn good one in my opinion.

Also, we may be getting a new beta reader soon, so the quality of my stories will increase! If you want to sample their work, look up Forlorn and Harbinger under the Naruto heading. Read Forlorn first for the context, but the writer is Harbinger's author, so make sure to read that one as well if you are interested. It is a great story, even if it is a bit lengthy. I am currently working through it again to remind myself of the plot and have loved the depth of story and character development. Such an inspiration!

With all that said, that's all, folks. Until next time...

Keep. It. Zesty.

-SZ